Hey how are ya all doing? It's been a while since I've posted anything so I was thinking about scary things. I do believe the most scarest thing I have ever done is take off on a motorcycle by myself to go well no where I guess I was just going. I didn't learn to ride the conventional way, no I didn't take the Learn to Ride program, my learn to ride came from a 190 pound patch holder and his prized 77 l000. He taught me the what I now know the friction zones, how to shift, brake and that was about all I needed to know or atleast that's what he thought. In his mind it was about getting the bike home in one piece if he wasn't at a place that he could crash at. I think my second lesson was at 3 am with a 190 lbs of drunk on the back of the bike, nothing could top being scared shitless, cause trust me ya wouldn't want to drop the thing. Anyway as life moves foward I found myself not so enchanted with this lifestyle.
I found myself still wanting to ride, I couldn't afford a new sportster at the time I think an 883 brad new went for 3,000 grand, so I bought a used bike for 800.00 dollars it was the same thing I was used too. However it didn't run as nice, I didn't realize it had issues until a neighbor said something to me at the trailer park I was living at the time. He fixed it for me, shook his head and said good luck, dear we're moving so I don't know who I can suggest to help ya. I didn't need help I knew what I was doing right? I mean I could get the bike going, I could turn a corner by now, stop what else was there to know? What I know now to then boy was I clueless. Part of life I guess is learning as we age that we dont' know shit, but first we have to go through the I know it all stages. I would basically ride to work and back. Really didn't think of going anywhere until my friend Donna said hay what don't we go to the shore tonight. She suggested we take the bike, hell why not............
Donna, came over and we both were prepared we braided our hair had the clears, had our best summer attires on, I had my leather jacket rolled and attached to the handle bars she had her little back pack thing. We took off for the shore about 6pm. We decided to go to LBI I have no idea why, its not like it was biker friendly at the time, we would have done better going to SeaSide Heights, but what the hell we went to LBI. I love it right there on 72 that one spot you can look back and see your on top of a hill when you look behind you in the mirrors, however it didn't feel like ya went up a hill at all. It's right where all them 5' pine trees are located, past The Woodshed and all. The closer to the shore we got the heavier the traffic. Now the only parking I knew of was down south once ya get on Long Beach Island. its the shoping, golf area thing, or ya can park at the light house. At night What would be going on at the Lighthouse? So I went to the shopping place..............we arrived safely. Low and behold I found out why she wanted to go there, her freaking boyfriend was there, she ran off with him and well I got to come home alone.
Here it was about 1am, I had some beer maybe a little other party favors of the time peroid and I was heading for home. On Long Beach Island I was fine, there were folks still out and about. Once I acrossed the intercoastal and felt the cooling air, and the lights of the little mainland area were lost in the review mirror I felt uneasy, very uneasy almost to the point of stopping. I dont' know what was freaking me out. I came to realize this was the first time I rode in the dark without anyone on the back meaning I was alone. I had no security blanket, no one was there to babble in my ear, I know this sounds strange but Ididn't do things the corect way so for me being alone was supre frighting. I can remember taking deep breaths, trying to calm my self. I did stop at the one gas station on route 72, the little peanut tank don't get ya too far ya know. I felt as though it took forever to get rolling again, I tried to draw it as long as I could...............I was hoping for sunrise so I didn't have to ride in the dark all alone. I was scared.
As I sat at that gas stop I started thinking about the Jersey Devil. Why? I have no idea, I guess I was on scary thoughts so I decided to scare myself with the local pinelands lore, now I wanted to get out of the gas station for I was fear full the Jersey Devil would get me. I had sat there so long I had to wipe the dew off the seat. I was cold, I was worried, and I was no place near anything. I had no choice, I seem to repeat this theme over and over again in my life.......I headed out, deer were a big concern as well currently I was cruising through I believe it is Lebonon State Park on 72. By this time the Woodshed, and the few other old little places were closed, I took the circle there and hand headed east on 70. There wasn't on head light along these stretches of road, it was teriffing to me at the time. I don't even think I was going the speed limit, I was worried about the deer the devil and not to sure this is something I should be doing at the moment. Waves of uncertian were over coming me. I was worried what happened if I crashed, how long till they find me, then I hate to fight that feeling off cause it was very distracting. I didn't want to stare blindly and get white line fever I heard truck drivers talk about but I didn'tneed to have a wondering mind. All around me was nothing but pine trees, there was a rest area maybe I could go there, no a car was there already no way I was going to stop there. I keep heading east on 70. My fingers frozen.
This was my first expereince with cold fingers, they do become stiff, hard to believe such a thing can occure to a 20 year old but it does. I made it though the 70 circle and took the 206 shoot out, and headed toward Wharton State Forest, near my home so I was very familiar with it. I was hoping that the fear and uncertianty would disappear as I got nearer to places I knew like the back of my hand. I wanted to shake that image of the Jersey Devil chasing me down and grabing me, flying off with me as my bike rode off and crashed into a tree, or the image of Bambi happily bounding across the road and me slaming right into to him, then crashing, or maybe even Rocky the raccoon killing me. I was fearful of the unseen car. Folks I had no business being there, my mind was so filled with horrible dying thoughts of how things were going to get me. I really was very scared. Finally the Pick-a-Lily was in sight! I felt much better I continued on to 206, and didn't take Atsion cause I don't know really I guess I was just looking for signs of human life, and Astion Road would not show signs at this hour. I have no idea what time it was, except that I was cold, scared and tired. I approached the White Horse Pike otherwise known as route 30.
Here was the Silver Coin Diner in Haminton World's capitol of Blueberries or so they say. I went into the diner and got some coffee, this was a big deal cause I didn't drink coffee at the time. I sat there it was just me and the waitress, she was filling salt and peper shakers, making fresh coffee, the bread truck arrived so I'm guessing it was about 5 am cause the bakery opens at 4am. The sun should be making its appearence pretty soon I'm guessing. I wasn't tired at all but very much relieved that I was some place familiar and very close to home. If I left now the street lights would show me the way, there would be cars coming and going, comforting me so I didn't feel alone. The folks going to work began to shuffle in the local farmers getting gosip, employee's of John's Manfield, those in Delievery trucks, no one really noticed I was there the just went right to the counter. I finished my coffee and left. Once I got home I decided I didn't enjoy myself all that much and wasn't going to do that again for some time.........yeah right ya know I would but it did take me awhile to do so. I got home in one piece, no deer or raccoons got me, the jerse devil let me be, and finial was warm.................have a great one "T"
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